DOCSLIB.ORG

Analysis of Situation of Children's and Women's Rights in Turkmenistan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Analysis of Situation of Children's and Women's Rights in Turkmenistan Analysis of Situation of Children’s and Women’s Rights in Turkmenistan February 2019 i Analysis of Situation of Children’s and Women’s Rights in Turkmenistan February 2019 Suggested citation: UNICEF in Turkmenistan, Analysis of Situation of Children’s and Women’s Rights in Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, 2019. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Office in Turkmenistan UN House, 21 Archabil Shayoly Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 744036 Tel: (+993-12) 488352 Fax: (+993-12) 488350 E-mail: [email protected] www.unicef.org/turkmenistan The analysis was made by UNICEF in Turkmenistan in close partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF in Turkmenistan to verify the information contained in this publication. ii Table of Contents Executive summary...................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... x Acronyms ................................................................................................................... xi 1. Introduction: ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Conceptual Framework .................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Structure ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 2. The Context of Turkmenistan ................................................................................... 6 2.1 Geographic and geopolitical overview ........................................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Demographic overview .................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.3 Political context ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.4 Socioeconomic context ................................................................................................................................................ 10 2.5 Disaster risk and climate change context ................................................................................................................ 12 3. The Enabling Environment for Child Rights .............................................................. 15 3.1 Legislation and policy ................................................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Expenditure on children ............................................................................................................................................... 18 3.3 Data availability on children’s rights .......................................................................................................................... 19 3.4 The aid environment ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 4. The Rights of Children ............................................................................................ 22 4.1 Child health and wellbeing .......................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 A Child’s Right to an Inclusive Quality Education .................................................................................................. 35 4.3 Child Protective Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 44 4.4 Adolescent participation and youth empowerment ............................................................................................... 59 4.5 Regional disparities....................................................................................................................................................... 61 5. Addressing key equity determinants and gaps ......................................................... 67 5.1 Equity gaps in Turkmenistan ...................................................................................................................................... 67 5.2 Children with disabilities .............................................................................................................................................. 68 5.3 Gender inequities .......................................................................................................................................................... 72 5.4 Early childhood development: cross-sectoral analysis ......................................................................................... 80 6 Conclusions and recommendations ..................................................................... 81 7 Annexes ............................................................................................................. 87 7.1 Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................... 87 7.2 List of Organizations Consulted ...................................................................................................................... 95 iii Table of Tables Table 1 Methodological Limitations and Mitigation Strategies ...........................................................5 Table 2 Comparative table of recent changes in public services (for residents) ............................. 56 Table 3 Percent distribution of the household population by wealth index quantile, urban and rural, 2015-2016 ....................................................................................................................................... 63 Table of Figures Figure 1. Five Dimensions of Children's Rights .................................................................................2 Figure 2. Resident Population Structure by Gender and Age Groups, Turkmenistan, 2017 .............8 Figure 3 Real GDP growth rates of Turkmenistan (in comparable prices, in % to the previous year) ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Figure 4 Risk Assessment for Turkmenistan ................................................................................... 13 Figure 5 ODA as a percent of Gross National Income for 5 Central Asian countries ...................... 21 Figure 6 Density of Physicians, number per thousand population ................................................... 23 Figure 7 Infant mortality rate (infant death per 1,000 live birth), Turkmenistan and selected countries, 2015 ................................................................................................................................................ 26 Figure 8 Exclusive breastfeeding .................................................................................................... 28 Figure 9 Public spending on education as a share of gross domestic product (%) ......................... 36 Figure 10 Percent distribution of children who received socioemotional caregiving (sang songs, took outside the home, and played with) in the past 3 days, by number of activities and type of caregiver ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 Figure 11 Parents' actions when child misbehaves ......................................................................... 46 Figure 12 Share of Internet Users, percentage of the population, 2016 .......................................... 60 Figure 13 Urban population (% of total) Turkmenistan and Europe and Central Asia ..................... 62 Figure 14 Share of rural population, by velayat ............................................................................... 62 Figure 15 Hospital beds for children per 100,000 child population, by velayat ................................ 66 Figure 16 Attendance of pre-primary education, by gender and velayat, 2016 ............................... 67 Figure 17 Children in residential institutions .................................................................................... 71 Figure 18 Higher (Tertiary) School Students, by Sex, 2010/2011 – 2016/2017. ............................. 76 iv Executive summary This Situation Analysis (SitAn) represents a strong partnership between the Government of Turkmenistan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN system around children’s and women’s rights. It confirms measurable progress made by Turkmenistan in advancing rights of children and women. Formal ratification of core international human rights treaties and the highest in Europe and Central Asia economic growth are necessary but not sufficient to ensure equity for all and additional efforts
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Turkmenistan
    Turkmenistan Capital: Ashgabat Population: 5.31 million GNI/capita, PPP: US$14,520 Source: World Bank World Development Indicators. Nations in Transit Ratings and Averaged Scores NIT survey year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 National Democratic 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 Governance Electoral Process 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 Civil Society 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 Independent Media 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 Local Democratic 7.00 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 Governance Judicial Framework 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 and Independence Corruption 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75 Democracy Score 6.96 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. If consensus cannot be reached, Freedom House is responsible for the final ratings. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest.
    [Show full text]
  • Jehovah's Witnesses Respectfully Request the Government Of
    Enclosed information material is submitted by the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses TURKMENISTAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES O S C E H u m a n Dimension Implementation M e e t i n g , W a r s a w 16–27 SEPTEMBER 2019 T u r k m e n i s t a n Jehovah’s Witnesses in Turkmenistan are not able to worship freely. Since September 2018, there has been an increase in government interference with the Witnesses’ religious activity. The Witnesses experience the following violations of their basic reli- gious freedoms: Police harassment and threats Police interference with public manifestation of belief 3 Government denial of right to possess religious material Government refusal to provide alternative civilian service Government denial of registration As of September 2019, seven young Witnesses are unjustly impris- oned in Turkmenistan for their conscientious objection to military service. Turkmenistan has no provision for an alternative to military service and has taken a harsh stance towards conscientious objectors. During the reporting period, six young Witness men were sentenced to im- prisonment. Bahtiyar Atahanov was forcibly taken to a military unit Turkmenistan has and later sentenced to four years in prison. Other cases are pending no provision for with the Prosecutor’s Ofce. an alternative to Law enforcement authorities continue to mistreat Jehovah’s Witnesses military service and has taken Authorities have intimidated and harassed the Witnesses by searching their homes without a warrant, seizing personal belongings, forcibly a harsh stance taking them from their workplace or homes for interrogation and even beating some of them—all in an efort to pressure them to abandon towards conscien- their faith.
    [Show full text]
  • TURKMENISTAN Found on the ETF Website
    CONTACT US Further information can be TURKMENISTAN found on the ETF website: www.etf.europa.eu For any additional information OVERVIEW OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION please contact: AND TRAINING AND THE LABOUR MARKET European Training Foundation Communication Department Villa Gualino Viale Settimio Severo 65 UPDATE 2015 I – 10133 Torino E [email protected] F +39 011 630 2200 T +39 011 630 2222 The contents of this paper are the sole responsibility of the ETF and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EU institutions. @ European Training Foundation, 2015 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. TURKMENISTAN OVERVIEW OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THE LABOUR MARKET WORKING PAPER PREPARED BY MILENA CORRADINI, ETF Updated May 2015 COUNTRY PROFILE ............................................................................................................................... 2 PREFACE................................................................................................................................................. 3 1. SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEXT ............................................................................................................ 5 2. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Ashgabat ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Akhal velayat .................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Lgbti+ in the Region of Central Asia: Repressions, Discrimination, Exclusion
    WITH THE PARTICIPATION: Кyrgyz Indigo, Human & art, Kok.Team, Uzbekistan LGBTIQ IG «Equality», IG OAT Kurtuluş WITH THE SUPPORT: IG Safe Space, Trans*Coalition in the Post-Soviet Space LGBTI+ IN THE REGION OF CENTRAL ASIA: REPRESSIONS, DISCRIMINATION, EXCLUSION Footage from a documentary «Deafening silence» ADC Memorial thanks Human Right defenders, activists, initiative groups, LGBTI+ individuals who, despite the risks, shared their experience and told their stories. Without your participation, this publication would not be possible. LGBTI+ IN THE REGION OF CENTRAL ASIA: REPRESSIONS, DISCRIMINATION, EXCLUSION Human rights report ADC Memorial with the participation: Кyrgyz Indigo, Human & Art, Kok.Team, Uzbekistan LGBTIQ IG «Equality», IG OAT Kurtuluş and with the support: IG Safe Spac, Trans*Coalition in the Post-Soviet Space. May 2020. adcmemorial.org CONTENTS PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF LGBTI+ PEOPLE IN CENTRAL ASIA ................... 4 THE SITUATION OF INDIVIDUAL GROUPS OF LGBTI+ PEOPLE.............................. 8 The Problems of Lesbian and Bisexual Women ............................................... 8 Problems Faced by Transgender People ........................................................10 Problems Related to Gender Transition ..........................................................11 Stigmatization of LGBTI+ People Living with HIV ............................................14 A Tragic Anachronism: The Criminalization of Consensual Same-Sex Relationships Between Men in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan ...........................16
    [Show full text]
  • 49370-002: National Power Grid Strengthening Project
    Initial Environmental Examination Final Report Project No.: 49370-002 October 2020 Turkmenistan: National Power Grid Strengthening Project Volume 4 Prepared by the Ministry of Energy, Government of Turkmenistan for the Asian Development Bank. The Initial Environmental Examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 81. Out of these IBAs, eight IBAs are located close to phase I Transmission line alignments. Four IBAs are located close to proposed Gurtly (Ashgabat) to Balkanabat Transmission line. And four falls close to existing Sardar (West) to Dashoguz Transmission line. No IBA falls close to Dashoguz-Balkan Transmission line. The view of these IBAs with respect to transmission alignment of phase I are shown at Figure 4.17. 82. There are 8 IBAs along phase II alignment. Two IBAs, i.e. Lotfatabad & Darregaz and IBA Mergen is located at approx 6.0 km &approx 9.10 km from alignment respectively. The view of these IBAs with respect to transmission alignment of phase II is shown at Figure 4.18. : Presence of Important Bird Areas close to Proposed/existing
    [Show full text]
  • Turkmenistan
    PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : TURKMENISTAN Compilation of the information available in the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council (as of 18 October, 2005) Also available at http://www.idpproject.org Users of this document are welcome to credit the Global IDP Database for the collection of information. The opinions expressed here are those of the sources and are not necessarily shared by the Global IDP Project or NRC Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project Chemin de Balexert, 7-9 1219 Geneva - Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 799 07 00 Fax: + 41 22 799 07 01 E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS CONTENTS 1 COUNTRY PROFILE 2 TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT USES FORCED DISPLACEMENT AS TOOL OF REPRESSION 2 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 8 LIST OF SOURCES USED 9 COUNTRY PROFILE Turkmenistan: government uses forced displacement as tool of repression Forced displacement is one of the many ways in which President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov exercises authoritarian rule and control in Turkmenistan. Turkmen law contains a number of provisions which explicitly allow forced relocation to be used as punishment for certain crimes committed by civilians, however, in practice these laws are used as legal justification for the displacement of political opponents and ethnic minorities. After a failed assassination attempt on President Niyazov in November 2002, the government intensified its search for “internal enemies”, aggravating the risk of forced relocation for political opponents and their relatives. Ethnic minorities are also at a heightened risk of forced displacement due to a government initiated discrimination campaign intended to forcibly assimilate ethnic minorities within Turkmenistan. There are numerous unconfirmed reports of forced relocation of ethnic minorities in the country’s border regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Submission on Turkmenistan –Third Round of the Universal Periodic Review, December 2008
    Submission on Turkmenistan –Third Round of the Universal Periodic Review, December 2008 This report is submitted by: LGBT Organization Labrys (Kyrgyzstan) and Sexual Rights Initiative (a coalition including Action Canada for Population and Development; Creating Resources for Empowerment and Action – CREA- India; Mulabi, Latin American Space for Sexualities and Rights; and others). Background 1. This report highlights the sexual and reproductive health/rights situation in Turkmenistan with particular emphasis on: cultural stereotypes that affect women and men sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as leading to other violations of women’s human rights; sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health; ITS/HIV prevention and treatment; sex work; trafficking; homosexuality and civil society activities. Recommendations for the Turkmen State are provided after each section. 2. Turkmenistan signed the following major international human rights conventions: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (and its Optional Protocol); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Convention on the Rights of the Child; International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. Cultural stereotypes affecting women and men sexual and reproductive health and rights, and leading to other violations of women’s rights. 3. Arranged marriages and expected marriages at an early age (bellow 20-22) are common in Turkmenistan1. The expected age for women is lover than for men. Choice of partner is mostly denied to women by the need for parental consent, ethnic or tribal recognition or socioeconomic status.
    [Show full text]
  • WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative – COSI
    WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative COSI Turkmenistan 2016/2017 (Round Four) report on data collection of childhood nutritional status | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan | 2020 ABSTRACT Childhood obesity remains an important public health problem in prevalence of overweight (19.1%) and obesity (3.2%). the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region, where it Family data showed that most mothers (87.3%) breastfed their is unequally distributed within and between European countries children for more than 7 months; of these, 50.5% breastfed from and population groups. Nutritional surveillance data are essential to 13 to 24 months. Children from Turkmenistan reported a high food effectively design, implement and evaluate policies and strategies consumption of fresh fruit (70.1%), vegetables (68.1%), meat (68.3%), aimed at counteracting obesity. Turkmenistan joined the WHO dairy products such as low-fat/semi-skimmed milk (75.7%), but more European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) study than 40% of children reported a consumption (> 4 days/week) of in 2016/2017 (fourth round) alongside 34 other countries. This soft drinks (42.5%) and other sugary foods such as candy bars and population-based system involves a standardized, harmonized chocolate (43.9%), and biscuits, cake, doughnuts and pies (48.3%). systematic process of monitoring prevalence of thinness, Regarding physical activity the majority of children reported walking overweight and obesity (based on measured data) among primary or cycling to school (80.5%), and play outside for 1–2 hours per day schoolchildren. during weekdays (65.3%) but sedentary habits such as watching TV COSI Turkmenistan was implemented in five velayats (regions): Ahal, or using electronic devices (1-2h/day) were reported by the majority Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, Mary and Ashgabat city.
    [Show full text]
  • The Report of Data Collection Survey on the Partnership Between the Private Sector in Hokkaido and Mongolia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus Area
    THE REPORT OF DATA COLLECTION SURVEY ON THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN HOKKAIDO AND MONGOLIA, CENTRAL ASIA, AND THE CAUCASUS AREA Final Report March 2016 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hokkaido Intellect Tank International Development Center of Japan 3R JR 16-002 CONTENTS Ⅰ Summary ............................................................................................................................................ - 1 - 1 Background of the Survey .................................................................................................................... - 1 - 2 Purpose of the Survey .......................................................................................................................... - 1 - 3 Survey Implementation Policy ............................................................................................................. - 2 - (1) Collaboration with the Policies of Japan and Multilateral/Bilateral Efforts ...................................... - 2 - (2) Country Analyses Based on the International Situation .................................................................... - 2 - (3) Discussion Based on the Japanese Policy for Support to Target Countries ...................................... - 2 - (4) Technologies and Knowledge from Hokkaido Applicable to Target Countries ................................ - 2 - (5) Examination of the Promotion of Private Collaboration Considering Past Lessons ......................... - 3 - 4 Flow of Survey Implementation ..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Turkmenistan
    Turkmenistan FINDINGS : Severe religious freedom violations and official harassment of religious adherents persist in Turkmenistan. Despite a few limited reforms undertaken by President Berdimuhamedov since 2007, the country’s laws, policies, and practices continue to violate international human rights norms, including those on freedom of religion or belief. Police raids and other harassment of registered and unregistered religious groups continue. The highly repressive 2003 religion law remains in force, causing major difficulties for religious groups to function legally, and has justified police raids and arrests. Turkmen law does not allow a civilian alternative to military service, and six Jehovah’s Witnesses are imprisoned for conscientious objection. In light of these severe violations, USCIRF continues to recommend in 2012 that the U.S. government designate Turkmenistan as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC. The Commission has recommended CPC designation for Turkmenistan since 2000, but the State Department has never followed this recommendation. Under the late President Niyazov, Turkmenistan was among the world’s most repressive and isolated states. Niyazov’s personality cult dominated public life, and there is evidence that President Berdimuhamedov is building a cult to justify his own dominance, but without religious overtones. While President Berdimuhamedov has ordered a few limited reforms and released the former chief mufti from prison in 2007, since then his government has not adopted essential systemic legal reforms on freedom of religion or belief and other human rights. Moreover, the Turkmen government has reinstituted restrictive policies regarding education, foreign travel, dual citizenship, and telecommunications that have again led to the country’s extreme isolation.
    [Show full text]
  • Planning and Policies on Extensive Livestock Development in Central Asia
    Overseas Development Institute PLANNmG AND POLICIES ON EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA Carol Kerven, John Channon and Roy Behnke with abstracts of selected works by Susanne Channon Library Overseas Development Institute FOR REFERENCE ONLY Working Paper 91 Results of ODI research presented in preliminary form for discussion and critical comment ODI Working Papers 37: Judging Success: Evaluating NGO Income-Generating Projects, Roger Riddell, 1990, £3.50, ISBN 0 85003 133 8 38: AC? Export Diversiflcation: Non-Traditional ExporU from Zimbabwe, Roger Riddell, 1990, £3.50, ISBN 0 85003 134 6 39: Monetary Policy In Kenya, 1967-88, Tony KilUck and P.M. Mwega. 1990, £3.50, ISBN 0 85003 135 4 41: AC? Export Diversirication: The Case of Mauritius, Matthew McQueen, 1990, £3.50, ISBN 0 85003 137 0 42: An Econometric Study of Selected Monetary Policy Issues in Kenya, P.M. Mwega, 1990, £3.50, ISBN 0 85003 142 7 53: Environmental Change and Dryland Management in Machakos District, Kenya: Environmental Profile, edited by Michael Mortimore, 1991, £4.00, ISBN 0 85003 163 X 54: Environmental Change and Dryland Management in Machakos District, Kenya: Population Profile, Mary Tiffen, 1991, £4.00, ISBN 0 85003 164 8 55: Environmental Change and Dryland Management in Machakos District, Kenya: Production Profile, edited by Mary Tiffen, 1991, £4.00, ISBN 0 85003 166 4 56: Environmental Change and Dryland Management in Machakos District, Kenya: Conservation Profile. F.N. Gichuki, 1991, £4.00, ISBN 0 85003 167 2 57: Environmental Change and Dryland Management in Machakos District, Kenya: Technological Change, edited by Michael Mortimore.
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Rights in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan
    University of Central Florida STARS Honors Undergraduate Theses UCF Theses and Dissertations 2016 A Comparative Study: Women's Rights in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan Megan A. Ginn University of Central Florida Part of the Comparative Politics Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, International Relations Commons, and the Politics and Social Change Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the UCF Theses and Dissertations at STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Undergraduate Theses by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Recommended Citation Ginn, Megan A., "A Comparative Study: Women's Rights in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan" (2016). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 67. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/67 A COMPARATIVE STUDY: WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN KAZAKHSTAN, UZBEKISTAN, AND TAJIKISTAN by MEGAN A. GINN A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Honors in the Major Program in Political Science in the College of Sciences and in the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Spring Term, 2016 Thesis Chair: Dr. Houman Sadri Abstract After 1991 five countries emerged out of the fall of the Soviet Union to create a new region: Central Asia. No longer dominated by Soviet rule these countries fought to overcome barriers to independence and struggled to be seen by the international community as developed countries. However, these countries were far from developed and had to pay the high cost of human rights to get what they desired.
    [Show full text]